This Friday Pistol Clinic was the kickoff event of a triple-header at the fantastic Otto Road Shooting Range (ORSR) in Cheyenne, WY. ORSR is an incredible facility and has been a longtime supporter of Project Appleseed - thank you Dee and Hank! Although we were originally sold out, a variety of last-minute factors for the participants (COVID, car, family) resulted in a pistol line with only one shooter! I'm sure it didn't help that the weather was cold, breezy and rainy. Our shooter, Micah, was joined by Wyoming's favorite Senior Instructor, M1Bzrk who decided to get his pistol to the line so Micah would have a little company :)
After a morning of pistol handling, safety and marksmanship instruction we gathered together for lunch and a little history. Since our shooter had already attended several prior Appleseeds, we talked about a little different history than at a more "normal" Appleseed, telling the stories of some incredible Patriot's most Americans might be less familiar with, like General John Stark, the "Swamp Fox" and Lafayette.
When we were done with lunch it was time to start the challenge of shooting the Pistol Qualification Test or PQT. With our small "line", we were able to run the PQTs at an impressive rate. Micah shot an impressive 202 right out of the gate. Unfortunately, the skies were dark and the thunder was rolling in. Although it was drizzling most of the day, we were forced off the range when the hail and lightening arrived. As the storm passed, we were able to get back out and resume our work. Micah persisted through it all and kept improving and earned his Pistoleer™ patch on the last PQT of the day - well done sir!
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51185686251_e5dea90677_h.jpg)
Micah getting his Pistoleer™! (also a group picture!)
What? The great Captain with less than a full line?
Alright; truth be I was partially to blame, too. I kept raiding the ranks of his shoot shanghaiing cadre from his shoot roster for the Pistol IBC next door. I think all transfers considered, he might have been at double capacity!
Nonetheless, all numbers go out the window when Micah took the line; quality trumps quantity. Micah is a veteran of many an Appleseed, with many qualifying qualifying scores under his belt. Now challenging the pistol clinic, he has more than demonstrated he knows what he is about.
More than once I approached Micah, orange hat (metaphorically) in hand requesting that he step up. Micah did something I admire greatly; he declined, citing work and family. I know him to be a family man firsthand, having met him with his kids at the Winterseed a few months earlier. While many have accepted a hat and never shown up again, Micah again demonstrated knowing what he was about. Good news is he said he'd reconsider upon retirement!
And Berk! Not only did he take the Patriot's Day shoot almost immediately after release from octoople bypass surgery/tickerectomy, but again signed up for Sam's three-ring (a pistol clinic, a pistol IBC, and an Appleseed) circus. Always mad, bad, and dangerous to know, he showed up leaner than ever (apparently having one's heart removed results in some weight loss).
Sam's grand gamble paid off! Despite the pistol clinic having taken the hit for numbers, the three events combined ended up with about twenty-five shooters; about six times our usual Wyoming turnout.
And serving all of our shoots this weekend was our Applecore, Digger13. Thank you for your dedication and attention to detail. We could have done it without you, but the results wouldn't have been nearly as good!
Yes! Wyoming's first public Appleseed Pistol Clinic Clinic; Captain came up from Colorado to SB. He must have what it takes: 100% of our paid-up attendees shot Pistoleer™.
Well, that's what I was going to say, but Captain let the cat out of the bag! It WAS our first public PPC, however, and Captain as usual did a superior Job of mentoring Micah, who put into practice what he heard. A great guy, and a true Patriot who knows what "perseverance" means. Thanks also to Digger13. She made her cameo appearance as a Blue Hat and it's great to have her on board. Sleepy made his final appearance (hopefully only temporarily final) and pitched in as always. Well done, and thanks to all of you!